Global Business Institute: London is over now, so it’s time to sum up my international experience and to describe the growth I see in myself personally, academically, and professionally.

My primary goal for this program was to become a better critical thinker that leads to better decision making. And decision making includes planning, controlling, organizing, and leading. Each country has its own unique teaching style. Studying abroad can help to expand the academic horizons and develop the ability to adapt to different educational conditions. Adapting to different teaching styles can also help to adapt to different management styles. Professors that I had in London encourage self-learning by emphasizing the teacher-student relationship. They helped students develop critical thinking skills by teaching us to ask questions and find solutions through research.

​​Studying abroad can help to start my career and increase my competitiveness in the labor market. This gives me the opportunity to show future and current employers that I have the open mind, resourcefulness, and drive necessary to adapt to a different environment. Studying abroad also helps to build invaluable relationships with people from all over the world. I broadened my international connections while having the opportunity to meet people from different parts of the world. Some connections can even lead to career opportunities, including internships, job offers, and business partners. While studying abroad, I learned about new perspectives and developed cross-cultural awareness. I think this is something I can share with other Pitt Honors students, because if you are going to work with people from other countries, you will be more comfortable with people from different backgrounds and you will appreciate their unique experience. In addition, the best way to get to know another culture is to immerse yourself in it, and the ideal way to do this is to live in another country. By immersing myself in another culture, I developed such valuable life skills as independence and the ability to adapt. These skills gave me an additional boost of confidence in my personal and professional life. Studying abroad can be overwhelming, but the challenges that I had to overcome helped me become a more mature person.

Studying abroad allows you to see the world and travel to new places that you would not otherwise visit. In my free time, I did a lot of sightseeing in the new city. While studying abroad, you can also visit neighboring regions and countries, since you are not limited to one place. With international budget airlines and tourist offers, exploring the world is becoming more and more accessible. Studying in a new country opens up wide opportunities for career growth, depending on your field of study. I am a finance major, and London is a well-known business city. Often, organizations that hire international employees want to see evidence that candidates can succeed in a global environment. Studying abroad, especially in the field where you are interested in working, gives you the opportunity to demonstrate key skills and relevant experience in the resume.

Studying abroad can change the lives of students. From expanding the global network to discovering a new culture. Studying abroad will benefit education and career significantly. I am ready to share my new experience with other Pitt Honors students, because I believe in an increasingly globalized world, studying abroad is now more important than ever.